President Obama Appoints Three New Members and One Returning Member to the National... -- WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

President Obama Appoints Three New Members and One Returning Member to the National Council on Disability

Official crest of the United States government with an eagle clenching 13 arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right. The olive branch has 13 leaves and 13 olives representing the 13 original states. The eagle's head faces the ... Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Official crest of the United States government with an eagle clenching 13 arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right. The olive branch has 13 leaves and 13 olives representing the 13 original states. The eagle's head faces the olive branch, symbolizing a preference for peace. In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto E pluribus unum ("Out of Many, One"). Overhead is a "glory" with 13 stars on a blue circular field. (PRNewsFoto/National Council on Disability)

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Council on Disability (NCD) – an independent federal agency that recommends disability policy to the Administration, Congress and other federal agencies – welcomed President Barack Obama's announcement that three new members have been appointed to the agency. In addition, Councilmember Janice Lehrer-Stein was reappointed for a second term. New members are expected to begin work with NCD immediately.

NCD's new members Benro T. Ogunyipe, Dr. Katherine D. Seelman and Royal P. Walker, Jr. will join Janice Lehrer-Stein who is returning to the Council, NCD Chairperson Jeff Rosen, and Council members Clyde Terry, Gary Blumenthal, Chester Finn, Sara Gelser, Ari Ne'eman, Kamilah Oni Martin-Proctor, Stephanie Orlando, Captain Jonathan F. Kuniholm, USMC (Retired), Lynnae M. Ruttledge and Alice Wong all previously appointed by the President, to round out NCD's roster. Biographies for the new Council members are at the end of this release.

"The Council extends a warm welcome to our outstanding incoming members and to Janice Lehrer-Stein who returns for a second term," proclaimed NCD Chairperson Jeff Rosen. "The depth and breadth of experience and knowledge they will bring to the Council's existing work will prove invaluable in our collective quest to ensure the human, civil, and legal rights of Americans with disabilities across the nation."

NCD also expresses its collective gratitude to the outgoing members Pamela Young-Holmes, Matan Koch and Dr. Fernando M. Torres-Gil for their terrific work on behalf of Americans with disabilities and for their commitment to public service.

About the National Council on Disability (NCD): NCD is an independent federal agency of 15 Presidentially-appointed Council Members and full-time professional staff, who advise the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policy, programs, and practices. Members are appointed by the President, from diverse backgrounds across the nation, and the disability spectrum.